Geranium named Eclipse Salmon Orange

ABSTRACT

A new Geranium variety particularly distinguished by its vigorous, fast-rooting growth and its large semi-double salmon orange flowers which are borne in large umbels carried by strong tall stalks well above dark green foliage.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium,botanically known as Pelargonium hortorum Bailey, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Eclipse Salmon Orange. The new cultivaris a hybrid seedling resulting from a controlled crossing of an orangeflowered dark leaf seed parent and an orange flower pollen parentselected from our collection of plants maintained at our nursery atGilroy, Calif. for breeding purposes.

This new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program intended tocreate new Geranium cultivars with salmon orange colored flowers,semi-double flower form, dark green foliage, vigorous growth andsuperior cutting productivity.

The new cultivar was developed in 1988 at the Company nursery at Gilroy,Calif. and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced by cuttings inGilroy, Calif. and in Guatemala over a two year period. It has also beentrialed at Okemos, Mich. and in each case it has been found to retainits distinctive characteristics through successive generations and thisnovelty appears to be firmly fixed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Geranium plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographicdrawing which shows blooms, buds, and foliage of the plant in fullcolor, the colors shown being as true to that herein specified as can bereasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of this new Geranium plant. The data which defines thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out byGoldsmith Seeds, Inc. in Gilroy, Calif., the plant history having beentaken on 30 week old plants, blossomed under natural light in agreenhouse and color readings were taken in the greenhouse at Gilroy, onMay 29, 1990 at 2:00 p.m. under ambient light. Color references areprimarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Societyof London, England.

THE PLANT

Classification:

Botanical.--Pelargonium hortorum Bailey.

Commercial.--Zonal geranium.

Form: Semi-Dwarf.

Height: 11 to 14 cm., as a 51/2 inch potted plant, excluding blooms.

Growth: Vigorous and upright.

Strength: Strong, fast-rooting plant with dark green foliage that hasgood shipping ability as rooted or unrooted cuttings.

Foliage: Abundant quantity.

Leaves:

Size.--Diameter about 5.5 cm.

Shape.--Rounded cordate with occasional upfolding between veins.

Margin.--Irregularly crenate.

Texture.--Leathery and pubescent on both surfaces, especially alongveins.

Ribs and veins.--Distinctly palmate, 2.5 to 4.5 cm. long.

Color.--Upper side: Dark green with a darker green zone on the outerhalf of the leaf. Underside: Lighter green color without zonation. Ribsand veins not prominently different from upper surface.

Petioles.--About 4 to 6 cm. in length.

THE BUD

Size:

Diameter.--About 7 mm.

Length.--About 1.8 cm. to 2.0 cm. at time of bud opening.

Shape: Pointed ovoid.

Color: When sepals first divide, RHS 43-C.

Sepals: Five or six in number, flat behind petals.

Shape.--Pointed linear lanceolate in form.

Color.--Green RHS 144-A, with purple streaks in an open flower.

THE FLOWER

Blooming habit: Continuous throughout the year.

Size: Approximately 4.5 cm. diameter, 1.1 cm. deep, irregularly radiallysymmetrical.

Form: Cup-shaped when bloom first opens, later flattening to anirregular shape with maturity.

Petals: Six to seven imbricate outer petals, 1.4-1.8 cm. wide andapproximately 2 cm. long. 5 to 6 inner smaller petaloids of varyingshape. Both the outer petals and inner petaloids are salmon orange (RHS43-B). Veins are the same color as the interveinal regions. Colorchanging little with age. Underside of petals lighter. Petals andpetaloids soft and satiny.

Pedicel: Approximately 2.5-3 cm. in length.

Persistence: Nonshattering flower.

INFLORESCENSE

Type: An umbel composed of approximately 30 flowers, erect or laterallyascending.

Peduncle: Approximately 8-9.5 cm. in length. Green acquiring a reddishtint with age.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens:

Anthers.--Seven to nine positioned below the mature stigma, dull redprior to anthesis.

Filaments.--White near base and mid length, graduating to dull red nearanther.

Pollen.--Orange in color.

Pistil:

Number.--One.

Length.--Approximately 8 mm.

Style.--Length: About 4 mm. Color: Purplish red.

Stigma.--Five or six linear lobes of near equal length, curling backtoward ovary, purplish-red.

Ovaries: At anthesis, densely pubscent with white hairs, oblong andgreen, drying to a light brown at maturity.

Fruit: Partially fertile.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant substantiallyas herein shown and described characterized by dark green foliage withfaint zonation, salmon orange flower color, and semi-double flowers onlarge umbels, the plant being fast-rooting and having a vigorousbush-like growth habit.